Latching device for car-couplings



T. H. SANFORD. LATCHINGDEVICE FOR CAR COUPHNGS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 15, 1920.

1,369,358. Patented Feb. 22,1921.

immmmuwm IIIIW'" I ll INVENTOR WITNESSES I Tlzomas H. Sanford.

,4 TTORNEYS UNITED srA TES'PATENT I H THOMAS HARRISON sanrom), on ALEXANDER CITY, ALABAMA; ASSIGNOTR or om} rourvrn 'ro LEMUEL-B.. COVLEY, DEALEXANDER CITY, ALABAMA-.3

LA'roniNG DEVICE r011. cancourrimost .Speeificationof Letters P atent. P t nted Feb: 2,25,- 1921; I

Application fildlanuary' is, 1920. Serial No. 351,601. 7

'To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS HARRISON SANFORD, a resident of Alexander (alt/V, in

the county of'Tallapoosa and Stateof Ala' bama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Latchmg DGVICBSTOI Car- Couplings, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to car couplings and particularly to a latching means therefor for effectively securing, the draw-heads. of the coupling together so as to prevent their accidental release and to-eliminate 'the unnecessary slack which. is found in couplings now in use.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide a latching devlce of simple, durable and efiicient construction which in its released position is capable of being moved to a locking position when the two draw-heads are moved into engagement with each other. I will describe one I form of coupl ng and one form of latching device embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view showing in top plan and partly in section one form of coupling including one form of: latching device, em-

bodying my invention, the latter being shown in the released pos1t1on.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Flg. 1 with the latching device in locking position.

f Fig. 3 is a view showing in side elevation the couplmg shown in Fig. 1.

' Fig. 4 1s a fragmentary sectional view of the draw-bar showing the manner in which the locking block is mounted therein.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring specifically to the drawings,

D designates a draw-baron one end of which is formed a draw-head H. The draw-head I H is of the Janney type and is provided with a coupling member IQ which is pivoted on a pin P so as to swing to locking and releasing positions, as will be understood. The draw-bar D and the draw-head H are bored longitudinally to provide compart- V ments 15 and '16 for the. reception of the latching device. As shownin Figs. 1 and 2, the compartment 15 slidably receives the locking block B the compartment and blocl; being rectangular in contour toPleVBIltIO- tation of the former within the compartments 15 and 16jand secured at oneiof its ends to the blockzB whilejits' opposite end 1s pivotally connected to the endof th e'lever L as at 17. As shown in Fig.1, thes 4 sectional area of the compartmentf15 en;

ceeds that "of the compartment .16 so asto provide a shoulderlat the junction'olf the" two against which bears one'end of a 'coilf expansiblespring'18."The spring 18 surf. "rounds the'rod R and its opposite endabuts 5 the locking block B so that it serves to bias the block in the direction of the draw-head.

As shown in Fig. 4, the movement of the locking block B within the compartment 15 is restricted by means of a pin 19 which works within a groove 20 formed in the lower wall of the compartment 15 and a rewhich works within a suitable opening formed in the draw-head. This arm A is designed for the purpose of "maintaining the locking block B in retracted or'released position when the coupling member K is in the inactive position. As shown in Fig. 1 the freeend of the arm A engages the block B when the coupling member K is in the inactive position and thisprevents outward movement of the block underthe action of the spring 18. Because of the curvature of the arm A, it is obvious that the coupling member K can be swung to the active position and when it reaches this active position, the, block B is automatically moved forward so as to engage the coupling member and thus lock thesame in the active position. 7 Inthe active position-of the block B it engages a beveled surface 22 of the cou-' pling member K and firmly locks the coupling member in the active position at the same time permitting the unrestricted movement of the block to releasing position. The releasing and locking positions of the block B as well as the active and inactive positions of the coupling member K are clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. In the locking position of the block B the lever L is swung forwardly as shown in Fig. 2, thus lever L swings about a pivot 23 as a center. When it is desired to move the lockin block to the releasing position, the lever I1 is manually actuated so asto occupy the position shown in Fig. 1 whereby the blockB is moved into the compartment 15 and against the tension of the spring 18.

It is to be understood that an identical coupling member is provided-to, co-act with the coupling member K, such member being shown in phantom in Figs. 1 and 2 and supported by a draw-head and draw-bar identical in construction to members D and H.

Although I v have shown and described onl one form of car coupling, it isto be un erstood that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the ap-.

pended claim.

Having described my invention, what I claim is: a

A car coupling comprising a draw-bar, a draw-head formed on the bar, said drawhead and draw-bar being bored longitudi- "nally to provide compartments, a coupling member pivoted on the draw-head, a locking block movable within one of said com partments, means for biasing said block to engage said coupling member, means for re tracting said block so as to disengage said coupling member, means for limiting the movement of'said block in either direction comprising, a pin, a recess formed'in said block for receiving said pin, and a groove formed in the bore of said draw-head and also receiving said pin, and an arm formed '40 on the coupling member movable in an arc substantially at right angles to the direction of movement of said block for retaining the block in releasing position when said couplin g memberis in the inactive position. HOMAS HARRISON SANFORD. 

